Dry cleaning machine



Jan. 10, 1939. R. Mcl. CORAM DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 10, 1939. R. MCL coRAM 2,143,301

DRY CLEANING MACHINE R.M.Carzrrr @wwf/law E l1 A 1 llyvexyior se f Jan, 10, 1939.

R. MCI. CORAM DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sl'lee'cv 3 Patented Jan. 1o, 1939 2,143,301

DRY CLEANING MACHINE Robert McIntyre Coram, Winnipeg, Manitoba,

Y Canada Application January 25, 1936, Serial No. 60,858

6 Claims. (Cl. '74-218) The invention relates to dry cleaning machines the pulley 9 being carried by a ball bearing |I, wherein clothes are cleaned by a solvent solution backed by a sleeve I2, and the outer side thereof and the principal object of the invention is to is provided with an enlarged flange I3. The produce a drive mechanism for a machine which pulley I is also provided, on the outer side, with will wash, tumble, extract and deodorize suits, an enlarged ilange |4. A circular plate I5, hav- 5 dresses, coats, etcetera, without removal from ing a boss I6, is fastened to the shaft and the end the machine during the various operations. of the said shaft abuts the end of a small ex- A further object of the invention is to provide tension I'I. This extension is interiorly screw a driving means for the tub whereby it can be threaded, is of less diameter than the shaft and 10 intermittently reversed, or driven in one direcis provided, on the shaft abutting end, with a 10 tion only at high speed, and said means may be ilange IB of the same diameter as the shaft. changed to either drive while the machine is in 'I'his flange is received within the boss I6, which operation. hooks thereover to prevent its Withdrawal. A

A further object oi' the invention is to provide hand wheel I9 is fastened by a set screw to the i5 a hand controlled belt tightener to be used when extension I'I, and in the turning of this hand l5 the machine is under heavy load. wheel, the extension revolves.

A further object of the invention is to extract A disk 2D is mounted on the shaft, between the the solvent from the clothes by centrifugal force pulleys, and centrally is secured to a bar 2| and driven heated air, and recover the same from which passes through a slot 22 in the shaft. The

the air. end of the shaft is counterbored at 23 to the slot 20 With the above important objects in view, 22 and a rod 24 therein connects the bar 2| with which will become more apparent as the descripthe extension I1 in which it is centrally screwed. tion proceeds, the invention consists essentially, Both sides of the disk 2|! are provided with clutch in the arrangement and construction of parts facings 25 and 25 and the side of the disk I5,

25 hereinafter, more particularly described, referopposite the flange I4, is also provided with a 35 ence being had to the accompanying drawings clutch facing 26.

in which: From the above it will be apparent, that if the Figure lisaside view of the machine. hand wheel I9 is rotated in one direction, the Figure 2 is a front view of the machine. disk 2|) will press the leit hand clutch facing 25 Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine. into engagement with the pulley 9, while if the :in

Figures 4 and 5 represent enlarged upper and hand wheel is turned in the opposite direction, the lower vertical sections taken on the line 4 4, disk 20 will press the right hand clutch facing Figure 1. 25' against the side of the pulley I0 and the Figure 6 is an enlarged section of one end of iiange I4 will press against the facing on the the tumbling tub drive shaft and associated parts, disk I5. 35 including clutches. On the main shaft 6 and within the cylindrical Figure 'l is an enlarged vertical section through casing 3, a tumbling tub 21 is securely mounted. the tumbling tub reverse mechanism showing the This tub is of a hollow drum shape, the walls and reverse control plate in dotted outline, the said circumferential face thereof, are perforated and 40 section being taken on the line 'I-1, Figure 1. the interior is provided with four cross partitions i, Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 28 which divides the interior into four compart- 8-3, Figure '7- ments. Each compartment is provided with a Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section of the clothes receiving opening (not shown) in the fan control clutch and associated parts. circumferential face of the tub. These openings In the drawings, like character of reference are closed, in the operation of the machine, by a.

indicate corresponding parts in the several gpair of doors 3|) and 3|. The door 3| is hinged ures. on the adjacent under side to the interior of the A pair of standards I and 2 support a hollow tub circumferential face while hinges on the outer cylindrical casing 3 formed from two semi-cirface of the doors pivot them together. Suitable cular members 4 and 5 and they also support a exterior locking means holds them closed. 50 main cross shaft 6 through a pair of exterior ball The semi-circular member 4 is provided on its bearings 1. The said shaft passes centrally front outer circumferential face with a circular through the casing 3 with suitable packing boxes boss 44 which encloses a circular clothes entrance 8 at either side. A pair of pulleys 9 and I0 (see opening (not shown). An angle shaped plate 46 Fig. 6) are mounted on one end of the shaft, is fastened to one side of the member 4 and pro- 55 Vil) jects upward a short distance and pivotally receives a cross bar 41 which passes across the opening and rests Within a catch 48 mounted on the other side of the member 4. This cross bar is centrally tapped to receive the threads of a screw 49 which is rotatably controlled by a hand wheel 50. The opposite end of the screw extends below the cross bar and pivotally supports a circular closure disk which is adapted to contact with the face of the boss 44 and close the clothes entrance opening.

A thermometer 45 is connected to the top of the casing 3 to register the temperature therein.

A rectangular shaped condensing box 52 is mounted at one side of the machine and projects above the casing 3. An extension projects downward from the rear end of this box and is fastened to the casing 3 where an opening (not shown) is provided intercommunicating with the interior thereof. A fan casing 16 is fastened to the side of the box 52 and communicates therewith. The shaft of this fan is exteriorly provided with a pulley The lower part of the fan is supported and is in direct communica.- tion with a duct (not shown) mounted on the rear portion of the semi-circular member 4. This duct passes completely thereacross and communicates with the interior of a casing 18 mounted on the side of the said member 4. This casing interiorly supports a steam heating unit 19. An opening (not shown) is provided in the side of the semi-circular member 4 and connects the lower part of the casing 18 with the interior of the casing 3.

From the above it will be apparent that when the i an is operated, air will be drawn through the codensing box, forced through the duct, then past the heating unit into the casing 3 where, after passing through the clothes, it will reenter the condensing box for a purpose later described.

A pair of bearings 91 are mounted on the upper part of the member 4 and rotatably support a crosshaft 88. 'Ihe outer end of this crosshaft supports a pulley 89 which directly drives the pulley 9 through a belt 90. Between the bearings, the shaft carries a wide pulley 9| and a narrower pulley 92, both securely fastened to the shaft (see Fig. 9). A further pulley 93 is freely mounted on the shaft and is connected through a belt 93 to the fan pulley 15. Between the pulleys 93 and 92, a disk 94 is mounted, this disk being similar to the disk 20, having a bar 95 passing through a slot in the shaft and controlled by the end shifting of a rod 96 passing lengthwise through the interior end of the shaft 88. A wheel 91 is rotatably mounted on the end of the shaft 88 and is prevented removal therefrom by a pair of semi-circular plates 98 fastened to the inner side of the wheel and ridingr in an annular groove around the shaft. The rod 9G is screw threaded through the wheel 91 and when this wheel is turned in one direction` the end shifting of the rod 96 will cause the disk 9d to drive the puley 93 through a friction facing therebetween and when the wheel is rotated in the opposite direction, the pulley will be released.

A further pair of bearings 99 and 99 are mounted on the semi-circular member 4 (see Fig. 1) and rotatably support a, shaft |00. The outer end of this shaft is provided with a driving pulley 10| which directly drives the pulley |0 through a belt |02. An idler pulley |03 rides the belt and is pivotally supported through a crank |04, swung from the shaft |00. A further pulley |05 fis securely fastened to the shaft |00, between the bearings, and on either side of this pulley, a pair of further pulleys |06 and |01 are freely mounted. A crossed belt |08 connects the pulley |06 to the pulley 9| and a. straight belt |09, which is partly running on the pulley |01 also connects the pulley 9| With the pulley |05. A Worm H0 is rotatably mounted on the shaft |00 and is connected to the hub of the pulley |01 through a dog (see Fig. 4). This worm is adapted to revolve a gear |2 mounted on a plate H3 formed as part of the bearing 99. The plate H3 also supports a small shaft H4 (see Fig. 8) which is parallel to the shaft 00,1and this shaft slidably carries a reverse control plate H5 having two converging flanges I0. An eccentric pin H1 projects from the gear H2 and is adapted to be received between the flanges H6, and in the rotation of the gear, the pin Will end shift the reverse control plate on the shaft H4. A strap H8 passes from the reverse control plate and connects to a bar H9, slidably carried in bearings from the plate H3. A control bar |2| is fastened to the inner end of the bar H9 and this control bar is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned links |22 which span the belts |08 and |09.

From the above it will be apparent that when the pulley 9| is driven, the pulley |05 will rotate the shaft |00 while the pulley |01 will rotate the worm H9 and drive the gear H2. As this gear turns, the reverse control plate will end shift the bar H9 and in so doing, will move the belt |09 completely onto the pulley |01 and the belt |08 completely onto the pulley |05 and so reverse the direction of the shaft |00. In the continued movement of the gear H2, the belts will be brought back to the original position, again reversing the shaft |00.

'I'he lower part of the casing 3 is provided with a trough |23 (see Fig. 5) which leads to the open end of a valve |24, screwed into the lower side of the casing. A U shaped trap |25 is connected to a settling tank |26. Should any refuse collect in the trap, suitable cleanout plugs |21 and |28 are provided.

The settling tank is supported, at the front end, by lugs |29 which are fastened to the standards and 2 and it is positioned directly under the casing 3. The rear end of the tank is supported by a drain pipe |30 which connects to a distilling tank |3| supported in a pair of frames directly at the rear of the standards and 2. The

upper part of the distilling tank frames support a Y solvent tank |31. A condensing tank |39 is supported on the top of the solvent tank and its upper part forms a support for an electric motor |4| which drives the pulley 92 through a. belt |42. A pipe |43 is connected between the bottom of the solvent tank and the casing 3 and this pipe is at a slight upward slant and controlled through a valve |44.

A source of cold water supply (not shown) is connected to a pipe |52 which passes back along the side of the machine, across between the casing 3 and the distilllng tank |3| to the other side where it passes up to a valve |53. This valve, through a pipe |54, controls the entrance of water into one end of the heating unit. The other end of the unit is connected to which is again connected through a T to a pipe |56 which passes back to a valve |51. A pipe from this valve is connected to a drain (not shown).

'I'he pipe |52 is also connected through a, valve (not shown) with the bottom of the box 62 which is water jacketed. A pipe (not shown) is connected to the upper end of said jacket and leads to a drain (not shown).

A pipe |63 is provided at the front of the machine, below the casing 3, and is adapted to be connected to a source of steam (not shown). This pipe is connected to a valve |64. The steam passes from this valve to a pipe |66 and from there to the pipe |54, through the heating unit and then passes back to the original source through a valve |61.

A drain pipe |14 connects with the bottom of the box 52 and leads to a tank |15 which is provided with a sight glass |16. A pipe (not shown) connects this latter tank with the settling tank.

The operation of the machine and drives will now be described.

The compartments are filled with clothes. The valve |44 is turned on causing solvent to iiow into the casing 3. When a pre-determined height is reached the valve |44 is shut ofi. The motor |4| is then started.

The motor drives the pulley 82 through the belt |42, which in turn, drives the shaft 88 and the pulleys 89 and 8|. Through the two belts |08 and |09, the operations of which have been described, the pulley 9| drives the pulley ||l| in first one direction and then the other, and through the belt |02, the motion is transmitted to the pulley I0. The pulley ||l, which is connected to the main cross shaft 6, drives the tumbling tub. Under this continually reversing drive, the tub splashes the solvent through the clothes, the solvent entering the tub through the perforations, and as the solvent runs out the dirt from the clothes is taken with it.

The valve |24 is then opened to permit the solvent to escape into the settling tank |26 and, while the machine is still running, the hand wheel i8 is rotated to alter the drive of the shaft 6 from the pulley Il) to the pulley 9, which is driven by the belt 90 from the pulley 88. Accordingly, the tumbling tub will now be driven in one direction at high speed. At this time, a bar |83 (see Fig. l) may be drawn ahead by the operator and through a lever |84, an idler pulley |85 will ride the belt 90 and tighten it to prevent slippage. The fast rotating tumbling tub, through centrifugal force, extracts most of the liquid solvent from the clothes.

The valve |24 is then shut and a flat bar |86, (see Fig. 3), pivoted at |81 to the casing of the fan, is pressed down against the wheel 81. As the shaft 88 is turning at this time, the friction developed against the wheel 91 causes it to turn slower than the shaft 88 and accordingly, the rod 88 is end shifted and moves the clutch disk 94 which operates to connect the shaft 88 with the pulley 83 and cause the operation of the fan through the belt 83. Accordingly, air is driven from the fan casing through the duct casing, through the casing 18 into the casing 3, through the clothes and back into the fan casing.

The operator then allows steam to pass through the heating unit and heat the passing air. When the heat of the air increases to a given temperature. it vaporizes the solvent in the rotating clothes and this gas passes along with the air. As cold water is passing through the jacket of the box 52 at this time, the low temperature condenses the solvent gas which precipitates into liquid and passes down the pipe |14 to the settling tank |26,

When the above operations are completed, the

operator permits cold water to pass through the heat unit. This cools the passing air and the casing 3 is brought back to atmospheric temperature. The motor is shut off. The clothes are then removed and the machine is ready for the next batch.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a drive mechanism for a dry cleaning machine having a clothes receiving tumbling tub mounted on a shaft for rotation Within a solvent receiving casing, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine, a countershaft mounted on the machine, drive means connecting said power driven shaft with said countershaft to rotate the latter shaft in one direction, a second drive means connecting said power driven shaft with said countershaft to rotate the latter shaft in the opposite direction, automatic control means for disconnecting one drive means from said countershaft and connecting the other drive means thereto and for periodically reversing said connections, direct drive means between the said power driven shaft and the said tumbling tub shaft, drive means between the countershaft and the tumbling tub shaft, and clutch means mounted on said tumbling tub shaft for selectively disconnecting one of said tumbling tub drive means and connecting the other drive means to said tumbling tub shaft.

2. In a drive mechanism for a dry cleaning machine having a clothes receiving tumbling tub mounted on a shaft for rotation within a solvent receiving casing, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine and provided with a pulley, a countershaft mounted on the machine and supporting three pulleys, one of which is fastened to the said countershaft and the other two being loose thereon, a straight belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with one of said pulleys on the countershaft, a crossed belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with another of said pulleys on the said countershaft, means operated by said pulleys on the countershait for passing one of said belts onto the fixed pulley and passing the other belt onto a loose pulley and for periodically reversing the said operation, drive means connecting said countershaft with said tumbling tub shaft, direct drive means connecting said power driven shaft with said tumbling tub shaft, and clutch means mounted on said tumbling tub shaft for selectively disconnecting one of said tumbling tub drive means and connecting the other drive means to said tumbling tub shaft.

3. In a dry cleaning machine having a clothes receiving tumbling tub wherein clothes are washed and the cleaning fluid later extracted therefrom, a driving mechanism for said machine comprising, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine, a pulley mounted on said power shaft and drive means connecting said shaft with the shaft of said tumbling tub, a countershaft mounted on said machine and supporting three pulleys, one of which is fastened to said countershaft and the other two being idle thereon, a straight belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with one of said pulleys on the countershaft, a crossed belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with another of said pulleys on said countershaft, guides controlling both belts, a worm mounted on said countershaft and driven by one of said idler pulleys, a worm wheel mounted adjacent said worm, operated thereby, and eccentric means carried by said worm Wheel and connected to said belt guides for passing one of said belts onto the fixed pulley and passing the other belt onto an idler pulley and for periodically reversing the said operation, drive means connecting said countershaft with said tumbling tub shaft, and clutch means mounted on said tumbling tub shaft for selectively connecting said shaft to either the power driven shaft or to the countershaft drives.

4. In a dry cleaning machine having a clothes receiving tumbling tub wherein clothes are washed and the cleaning uid later extracted therefrom, a driving mechanism for said machine comprising, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine, drive means connecting said power shaft with the shaft of said tumbling tub, a counter shaft mounted on said machine and drive means connecting said countershaft with said tumbling tub shaft, means for driving the countershaft in opposite directions, respectively, comprising, driving means between said countershaft and said power shaft, a second disconnected reverse drive means between said countershaft and said power shaft, automatic control means for disconnecting the iirst mentioned drive means from said countershaft and connecting the second mentioned drive means thereto and for periodically reversing said connections, and clutch means mounted on said tumbling tub shaft for selectively connecting said shaft to either the power shaft or to the countershaft drives.

5. In a dry cleaning machine having a clothes receiving tumbling tub wherein clothes are washed and the cleaning fluid later extracted therefrom, a driving mechanism for said machine comprising, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine, a belt drive connecting said power shaft with the shaft of said tumbling tub, a countershaft mounted on said machine having a belt drive to said tumbling tub shaft, means for driving the countershaft in opposite directions, respectively, comprising, a belt drive between said countershaft and said power shaft, a second disconnected reverse belt drive between said countershaft and said power shaft, an automatic control means for disconnecting the first mentioned belt drive from said countershaft and connecting the second mentioned belt drive thereto and for periodically reversing said connections, and clutch means mounted on said tumbler tub shaft for selectively connecting said shaft to either the power shaft belt drive or the countershaft belt drive, and a manually controlled belt tightener adapted to operate against the belt of the tumbler tub power shaft drive belt.

6. In a drive mechanism for a dry cleaning machine, a power driven shaft mounted on the machine and provided with a pulley, a countershaft mounted on the machine and supporting three pulleys, one of which is fastened to said countershaft and the other two being idle thereon, a straight belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with one of said pulleys on the countershait, a crossed belt connecting the pulley on the power driven shaft with another of said pulleys on said countershaft, guides controlling both belts, a worm mounted on said countershaft and driven by one of said idler pulleys, a worm wheel mounted adjacent said worm and operated thereby, and eccentric means carried by said Worm wheel and connected to said belt guides for passing one of said belts onto the xed pulley and passing the other belt onto an idler pulley and for periodically reversing the said operation.

ROBERT MCINTYRE CORAM. 

